Compare towns
Chatham vs Bridgewater vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most renters (20.3% rent).
Jackson has the most people working from home (22.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Chatham | Bridgewater | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
1,169Highest |
897 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Jackson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
| Jackson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
| Jackson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 45% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Chatham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Newfound Area School District | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.